UB launches 2017 Campaign for the Community

“The campaign lets us give as a community and lets us share our good fortune with the rest of the larger Buffalo-Niagara community.”

Graham Hammill, chair

2017 Campaign for the Community

Lights. Camera. Action.

UB launched its 2017 Campaign for the Community with a Hollywood
theme, as campus liaisons, administrators and members of United Way
agencies gathered yesterday morning in the Center for the Arts
Mainstage theater to hear how UB employees make an impact on the
Western New York community through their generosity.

Participants walked a red carpet as they arrived to take their
seats at tables — featuring Hollywood-themed centerpieces
— that were set up on the stage for the kickoff breakfast.
Nine United Way agencies set up tables on one side of the stage,
offering information on the services they provide.

As part of the program, six UB students on a side stage
performed two skits presented as if the students were filming the
movie “Office Space Part II: The Big SEFA
Ask.” The scenarios featured common things that happen to UB
employees when asking others to support the campaign.

Paul Peck, the voice of the UB Bulls, served as emcee of the
“full-scale production” and interviewed four
“cast members” about the campaign.

President Satish K. Tripathi opened the conversation by praising
not only the liaisons in attendance, but the entire UB community
— faculty, staff and students — “who donate their
money, as well as their time, to make sure our campaign is
successful.”

Tripathi pointed out that UB is one of the most successful
universities nationwide in terms of employee campaigns. And this
year will be no exception, he said. “I expect a successful
campaign, thanks to your help.”

Campaign Chair Graham Hammill, vice provost for graduate
education and dean of the Graduate School, told audience members
this year’s goal of $850,000, as well as a pledge to increase
the numbers of donors by 3 percent, is challenging, but achievable.
“I’m optimistic and feel very confident we have the
ability to reach our goals,” he said, noting that UB’s
reputation for achieving its campaign goals is “an expression
of the spirit of generosity that infuses this campus
community.”

Hammill said he strongly believes that as members of a
university like UB, “we are in really privileged
positions,” with job security and the opportunity to do work
that “truly advances the public good.” Whether through
research, academics, academic support, teaching or working with
students, “we all contribute to the public good. We’re
all in really privileged positions. The campaign lets us give as a
community and lets us share our good fortune with the rest of the
larger Buffalo-Niagara community,” he said.

He challenged everyone in attendance to “make a personal
commitment” to talk with at least two colleagues in their
workplace “and make that personal connection” that
helps make UB’s campaigns a success.

UB alumnus Dennis Elsenbeck, president of the board of the
United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, said he frequently is asked
why employees should support campaigns like UB’s and if
individuals really do make an impact.

“I walk around with faces, success stories of the
individuals that are touched by individuals such as yourself that
you probably will never meet,” Elsenbeck said. “If you
did, they would come to you … and say thank you because you
made an impact.

“I worry sometimes that you don’t understand the
depth of that. This community couldn’t succeed without you as
an individual and everything that you do to support this
community,” he said.

“I hope that someday someone walks up to you — out
of the blue — shakes your hand and just says thanks.

“You made an impact. Let’s all make an impact
together.”

Jay Bonefede, chief communications officer for the Western and
Central New York chapters of the American Red Cross, talked about
the Red Cross’ response to hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria,
noting that 5,000 people from the agency — mostly volunteers
— are on site offering assistance.

These voluteers, including more than 40 from Western New York,
are providing food, shelter and water — “basic things
we all take for granted,” Bonefede said.

He said he had visited a shelter in Houston during Hurricane
Harvey, where 8,000 people had stayed during the storm and its
aftermath, and wondered “where would those people be without
the Red Cross and our volunteers.”

Locally, he said, the Red Cross provides numerous services,
including responding to an average of one house fire a day and
providing victims with food, shelter and clothing. The Red Cross
also offers such programs as Sound the Alarm, which installs smoke
alarms and fire safety information.